DOTr official on EDSA bus carousel given ticket for number coding violation

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said one of its assistant secretaries was apprehended on the EDSA busway for violating the number coding scheme, according to Jun Veneracion’s 24 Oras report on Tuesday.

The DOTr clarified the vehicle was under its accreditation and on official business with an assistant secretary onboard when it was apprehended. The official was not identified. 

But since the said vehicle violated the number coding scheme, the driver was issued a traffic ticket.

“’Yan ay sasakyan accredited for busway operations. Ang lakad na 'yun ay may kinalaman sa operasyon ng busway. Lesson diyan yung mga ibang undersecretary, assistant secretary ng DOTR, e matututo na kayo. Parati kong sinasabi, maski si Secretary ay hindi pwedeng dumaan sa busway,” said Executive Assistant to the DOTr Secretary Jonathan Gesmundo.

(The vehicle was accredited for busway operations. The purpose of its travel was in connection with busway operations. This should serve as a lesson to other DOTR undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. I always tell them that even the Secretary is not allowed to use the busway.)

Along the EDSA- Shaw Boulevard underpass, the MMDA observed motorists taking advantage of the absence of barriers to enter the busway. Before emerging from the underpass, they would leave the busway which is when MMDA enforcers were waiting to apprehend them.

Those caught expressed surprise after learning the penalty for their violation.

Under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the increased fines for the violation of both public and private vehicles are:

First offense: P5,000

Second offense: P10,000 plus one-month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar

Third offense: P20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license

Fourth offense: P30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license

—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News